Communities often welcome visitors with signs of success. Clinton's village entrance honors its softball and baseball champions. Brooklyn proclaims itself home of women's pro baseball player Vivian Kellogg.

Now, Clayton's village signs salute its own champion, Terry Beagle.

Beagle won her third consecutive women's state horseshoe pitching championship during the Labor Day weekend. This past week, village president Mark Jeffrey was on hand to see the addition of village signs — paid for by Beagle's husband, Bob — noting her success.

The first weekend in May, she took part in the Hall of Fame Invitational in Wentzville, Mo. Beagle finished 12th in the 30-foot division.

Three weeks later, she joined Michigan's team as it finished second to host Wisconsin in the world championships in Beloit, Wis. Paul Bachelor of Brighton, Larry Hinton of Lansing and J.D. Drake from Linden also were team members. It was the best-ever finish by a Michigan team at the world championships, Beagle said.

In July, she and Bob traveled to St. George, Utah, where she placed 13th in the women's division of the World Horseshoe Tournament. The world tournament draws about 1,050 people, and Beagle and her husband have been there several times before. In 2011, when it was held in Louisiana, Bob won the Class L championship and Terry was second in her division.

"We almost were both first," Bob Beagle said.

Beagle capped the year with her three-peat in the state tournament in Jackson. She went 5-0 on Labor Day with a 60.28 ringer percentage in the women's class, finishing ahead of Peggy Stitt of Hesperia. That followed two days of competition in the 30-foot Class A mixed division in which she had placed second overall against men, with a 65.64 percentage.

Beagle said she credits her success to God.

"He's given me the ability. He's given me the strength. He's given me the wisdom," she said, also crediting practice, her husband's coaching and help from "going against better pitchers."

"You don't think that at the time when they're beating up on you, but it does."

The final Clayton welcome sign was put up Monday. On hand was state Rep. Nancy Jenkins, also from Clayton.

"Playing horseshoes brings to mind family get-togethers and backyard games, but Terry has demonstrated that the sport of horseshoe pitching takes skill and dedication," Jenkins said in an email. "I'm proud to know that the state women's horseshoe champion is Terry Beagle, from my hometown of Clayton."

Beagle has been pitching horseshoes for 11 years. She became intrigued by the sport while spending winters in Florida, and took up mixed competition involving both men and women. Beagle soon was finishing ahead of the male competitors.

Page 2 of 2 - "They always ask me in Florida, 'Don't you feel bad about beating up on the men?' And I say, 'No, because they love to beat up on me.' "

Beagle's goal now is to see the Michigan Horseshoe Pitchers Association create its own state hall of fame and museum. She is working with Jackson residents to establish it there. Only a couple of states have a hall of fame, and Beagle said it will help preserve the memory of Michigan's throwers. People interested in helping can phone her at 517-270-1329.

"It's recognition. A lot of them have passed away," said Beagle, who is offering to match donations up to $5,000. "I want it to be for every horseshoe pitcher in Michigan's hall of fame."